The pitched roofs, so typical of Abingdon’s past, are soon to be joined by the flat roofs of the new flats planned for the Old Gaol development.
Those buildings added in the 1970s, shown here on this Google Maps Image, are gone, and the ground has been cleared.
The Old Gaol now stands like a castle in a large sandpit.
I would guess that the developers are hoping there are no significant finds, and the Abingdon Archaelogical and Historical Society would hope for the opposite.
‘The pitched roofs, so typical of Abingdon’s past, are soon to be joined by the flat roofs of the new flats planned for the Old Gaol development.’
I hope not, but suspect that this will become an eyesore to join the disasters of Bury Street and the telephone exchange. One supposes that flat roofs were agreed to add more saleable floor space and not for the benefit of the residents of the town.
Why spend a fortune on the County Hall and build something totally out of character with the town almost adjacent? This is still a lovely town, despite the planning debacles of the 60’s and 70’s. Is the only remaining tradition in Abingdon the tradition of spoiling the town?
As is the case now, there are very few places where you can get a good view of the site and the original proposals – on which the bid was accepted – were such that the new blocks with flat roofs would be barely visible (apart from in birds-eye views such as these). I guess the one where the old sports hall was might be more visible from across the river, but hopefully most of the big trees will remain to partially screen it – the others were pretty much behind the Gaol so not easily visible from any street or public place (other than the museum roof!.
I haven’t checked to see if the final plans have adhered to all of this – is the model still on display somewhere?
Hester, when people are so secretive you know they have something to hide.
The model was still in the VWHDC offices a week or so ago.
The flats in the Vineyard used to be flat roof, then a few years ago they were updated. New windows and new pitched roof and updated heating systems.
Maybe making future work for themselves??.